Career Center

Faculty Positions in Neural Engineering (Open Rank)
The Grainger College of Engineering
Department of Bioengineering
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The Department of Bioengineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) invites applications for full-time tenure-track faculty positions in neural engineering, which is a strategic growth area in the department. We seek applicants who can contribute to the excellence of our programs through research, teaching, and service. The department has recently launched the nation’s first B.S. degree program in neural engineering. This new program leverages campus strengths across diverse topics from bioengineering, neuroscience, data analytics, and imaging. Additionally, there have been significant recent investments in neuroimaging technologies, including a new human 7 T MRI system and an ultra-high field animal MRI, as well as an increase in translational research on campus and with our clinical partners. To support this growth, applications from exceptional candidates with expertise in any subfield of neural engineering are sought. The search is open rank and candidates at all levels are encouraged to apply. The Department of Bioengineering is committed to building a culturally and intellectually diverse educational environment and candidates are expected to demonstrate evidence of a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through research, teaching, and/or service endeavors.

The Department of Bioengineering welcomes applications from all areas of neural engineering, focusing on the intersection of neural technologies, computation, sensors, and imaging, and with analytical scales spanning from molecular to tissue-level neural systems. This new faculty position within the Department of Bioengineering is part of a broader campus expansion in neural engineering, including a UIUC strategic cluster hiring initiative in Neuroinformatics (publish.illinois.edu/neuro-cluster), which will bring significant expertise to campus at the interface of computer and information sciences and neuroscience fields.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is an internationally top-ranked research institution. Our interdisciplinary and collegial academic community supports innovative cross-campus research initiatives that involve partnerships with the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, the Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, the Data Sciences Institute, the Carver Biotechnology Center, two new national AI institutes, and many other research centers, clinical sites, and educational programs on our campus.

The Department of Bioengineering at Illinois develops innovative engineering, technology, and quantitative methods to address grand challenges in human health and sustainability. These efforts encompass research and education across multiple disciplines including micro- and nanotechnology, bioimaging, computational and systems biology, cell and tissue engineering, synthetic bioengineering, and biomedical engineering education. The department is undergoing substantial growth in its educational and research programs. With the opening of state-of-the-art research and teaching facilities and the launch of our new engineering-driven Carle-Illinois College of Medicine, the Department of Bioengineering is positioned to impact fundamental and translational research as well as the integration of engineering and medical education.

A successful candidate is expected to possess a demonstrated track record of productivity and experience in research and interdisciplinary collaboration. Minimum qualifications include a doctorate in bioengineering or relevant STEM discipline and the ability to contribute to our educational programs. Rank and salary will be commensurate with qualifications. Start date is expected in the Fall of 2024; however, this is negotiable.

Applications should be submitted by visiting bioengineering.illinois.edu/about/employment and uploading in a single PDF file in the CV/Resume section: 1) a cover letter with current contact information including an email address, 2) a curriculum vitae, 3) a statement of previous research accomplishments and future research plans, 4) a statement of teaching goals, 5) a statement on commitment to diversity, and 6) the names and contact information of three or more references. Candidates should state in their cover letter if they are interested in the strategic cluster hiring initiative in Neuroinformatics, and list which other participating departments they have applied to, if any. The statement on diversity should address past and/or potential contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion through research, teaching, and/or service. For further information, contact Amy Meharry at amym@illinois.edu or 217-300-6905.

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by November 15, 2023. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Early applications are strongly encouraged as interviews may take place during the application period, but a hiring decision will not be made until after the closing date.

We have an active and successful dual-career partner placement program and a strong commitment to work-life balance and family-friendly programs for faculty and staff (provost.illinois.edu/faculty-affairs/work-life-balance).

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.